Matthew 5:10

Prayer

When Grace and I were in India, we had the opportunity to teach at a few theological training centers that raised up both men and women to minister the gospel all over North India.

There was one training center that was not quite like the others. As we walked into a training center in Lucknow, India, we noticed that there were not just students here but a handful of older men sitting in the back of the classroom.

In between teaching sessions, the head of the center sat us all down to tell us who these guys were. He told us they were all local pastors who had come to learn more from the guests at the center they once attended. Then, he proceeded to tell us some of the backstories of these 6 or 7 men.

Each of these men’s stories were marked by one specific theme: persecution.

In India, it is illegal in most places to share the gospel and to convert to Christianity. For the majority of the population, to be an Indian is to be a Hindu, and anyone who says differently typically pays the consequences.

Persecution is common for most of the believers in India. Quite frankly it’s typical for most of Christ’ followers. So much so that Jesus even tells us it’s one of the marks of a Christian.

If you would, turn with me in your Bible to Matthew 5:10.

The Word of the Lord says this:

Matthew 5:10 (ESV)

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We could summarize this already short passage by saying…

Christians are downtrodden, yet Celestial Citizens (x2)

Throughout each beatitude, we see a theme.

The promise of blessing, the ethical distinction of the blessed, and the proclamation of the blessing promised in the first part.

The reason Jesus is calling these people blessed in the first place in because of their ethical distinction. The blessing is the reward for the faithful.

Read a few of the beatitudes and point out these themes.

Our beatitude is slightly different.

First, this verse highlights the actions happening to the blessed, rather than the action of the blessed.

You see the first 6 beatitudes are calling the crowd to a new way of living. The last two, are making it clear that just because we are merciful or peacemakers, does not mean the world will treat us as such. Rather, quite the opposite because…

Christians are often Downtrodden

2 Tim. 3:12 says

2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

The gospel calls the believer to holy living and oftentimes to a road of imposed suffering.

Our Lord Jesus displayed this in his life and death. In his life, he was always poor in spirit, consistently found mourning, filled with meekness, perfect in righteousness, merciful beyond belief, pure as can be, and a peacemaker who broke the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile.

In his death, Jesus was persecuted for righteousness sake. Even though inon cent, full of love and mercy, he was still persecuted.

Jesus is warning his followers that as they pursue righteousness, they too will often face this opposition and suffering.

John 15:18-21 says...

John 15:18–21 (ESV)

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

The world will hate us, just as it hated Christ.

As we pursue righteousness church, let us not be surprised when the world hates us for it. Persecution is often not as severe in America as it is in other places, there’s no question about that. But, as we proclaim the gospel and pursue righteous living we very well could face persecution and opposition to some extent.

Consider 1 Peter 4:3-5

1 Peter 4:3–5 (ESV)

3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

As our coworkers, friends, family members, neighbors walk in sin they will surprised when we do not join them. They will be even more surprised when you share the gospel with them that calls them to repent of their debauchery and trust in Jesus.

The gospel is quite offensive to those who hearts are darkened and in love with sin.

Yet, let us not be afraid to share the gospel or form relationships with unbelievers because of potential opposition, turmoil, or persecution. For we know that this is typical for the believer, and God often works in and through it.

Out of love, let us strategically pursue relationships with unbelievers, whether that be in your neighborhoods, at your workplace, at a local book club or sports club, or even with international students at Wright State ;).

As we humbly submit to the commands of our Father and proclaim the good news of His gospel to these friends, let us be content with the fact that opposition and persecution may come, and trust God that he will work in the midst of this.

Yet, how do when we are hit with this opposition, how do we endure it?

In each of the other beatitudes, other than verse 3, we have the promised blessing coming in the future, whereas, verse 3 and verse 10 state the promise as a present promise to those who are poor in spirit, and to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Jesus is trying to show us that while not in full, we are still citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

In Ephesians 2:5-6

Ephesians 2:5–6 (ESV)

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Once we were saved, we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit and actually raised up with Christ in the heavenly places. Because of Christ, our hope is secure. So, to endure opposition and persecution, let us...

Cling to our Celestial Citizenship (x2)

When I was at that theological training center in India, I will never forget one of the pastor’s testimonies. We had been told early that morning that this man had been beat up by local people, spit at, mocked and maligned, and even beaten with clubs and left for dead all for the sake of Christ. I was not able to sit down and talk with this man,but I was able to observe his actions through the day. I watched the way he sang to King Jesus, how he prayed fervently, and was eager to know and learn the Scriptures.

Despite persecution, it was obvious that this brother remembered that his celestial citizenship. His persecution did not hinder his faith, but enhanced it, knowing that he does live for this world, but the one to come.

The response of Christ to the cross was no different. Heb 12:2 tell us that

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Knowing what was to come, Christ did not avoid the cross, but rather endured it by remembering the joy that was to befall him as he was seated at the right hand of God.

Earlier on, I strategically made the statement that Christ is pronouncing blessing because of the ethical distinction of the person.

While this is true, we only can be distinct because of the gospel. Because the Lord Christ was always poor in spirit, consistently found mourning, filled with meekness, perfect in righteousness, merciful beyond belief, pure as can be, a peacemaker who broke the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, and the one who was persecuted on our behalf.... we are BLESSED.

If you are in Christ, you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, you will be comforted, you will inherit the earth, you will be satisfied, you will receive mercy, you will see God, and you will be called sons of God.... all because of the gospel.

When we are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, let us learn from our persecuted brothers and sisters in India, and our Lord Christ, and endure knowing that we are citizens of the heavenly kingdom and we will reign with God forever.

Prayer